Three-component reactions of isocyanoacetates, amines and 3-formylchromones initiated by an unexpected aza-Michael addition

Abstract

We present herein a new mode of three-component reactions between isocyanoacetates, amines and 3-formylchromones. Both experimental and DFT studies revealed that this Ag-catalyzed unusual transformation is initiated by a facile aza-Michael addition instead of the conventional imine condensation. This catalytic method enables an efficient synthesis of polysubstituted pyrroles.